Chiara Wrocinski

Chiara Wrocinski is an accomplished leader with more than 20 years of experience in organizational and talent development. She is a recognized legal industry executive with a track record for innovation, attracting top talent, and serving as an influential agent for positive change. Chiara has a unique set of experiences, having worked across several industries and leading organizations — from design, education, the Big 4, and now legal. The majority of her career has included two premier organizations — Deloitte (2007-2013) and Kirkland & Ellis (2013-present). Prior to serving in her current position as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), she held several positions at Kirkland, which included creating several innovative talent and business development initiatives and establishing a centralized global talent organization. • At Kirkland, Chiara created the firm’s Alumni Engagement and award-winning CareerLink programs (winner of the Financial Times’ Innovative Lawyers award). Both programs were a first in the legal industry and are considered to be the legal industry benchmark. • In 2017, Chiara was handpicked to devise and lead the first global “one-firm” legal talent organization at Kirkland. As head of the Legal Recruiting & Development Department, she unified staff members from all offices across various teams and functions (recruiting, performance management, attorney engagement, learning and development, alumni engagement, and CareerLink) under her leadership, while continuing to design and implement pioneering talent programming and initiatives. • In 2018, Chiara created a unique, industry-leading Concierge program aimed at supporting the personal lives of personnel — a key differentiator for the firm, which generated press and positive recognition for the firm’s employer brand. • In 2020, Chiara was selected by the incoming Chairman to serve as Kirkland’s Chief Administrative Officer. In addition to leading the firm’s pandemic response efforts, which hit a few weeks after she accepted the role, she assumed responsibility for managing the firm’s comprehensive business support services (talent, finance, marketing, IT, operations, etc.), which includes overseeing 3,000+ professionals across 20 global offices. She has been integral in evolving and supporting the firm’s growth across all business units, attracting top talent to the firm from leading professional services and law firms, driving employee engagement during turbulent times, and ensuring operational excellence across all business support and administrative operations for a $6.5B organization; the highest grossing law firm in the world. • Chiara is a trusted business advisor to the Chairman and the firm’s Executive Committee; she is a member of several Executive Director/COO roundtables with a selective group of law firm leaders as well as an active member of the prestigious industry board, the NALP Foundation. • On a personal note: o Chiara is dedicated and passionate about supporting philanthropic organizations that enhance our communities, including serving as a Board Member of Marwen (which 2 empowers Chicago middle and high school students through visual arts). She is an avid supporter of the arts and Chicago’s many arts organizations, as well as various institutions that work to improve education for under-resourced populations. She is committed to serving the community through a long-time relationship with the St. James Food Pantry on Chicago’s near South Side. o Chiara grew up in Chicago’s West Rogers Park neighborhood and still calls the city home, living now in Lakeview with her husband, Dan, daughter, Annabelle, and Golden Retriever, Cinnamon. o As a graduate of an all-women’s college, Saint Mary’s of Notre Dame, and mother to an academically curious daughter, Chiara has an unwavering passion for helping women advance academically and professionally. She has served as an active member of numerous women’s initiatives. In her role as CAO, she is committed to mentoring women at all levels of their careers and advancing systemic support of women within the legal industry and beyond.